Boy Scouts vote to accept gay youths, but not adults

David Jones, Chief Executive Officer/Scout Executive for the Boy Scouts of America Yucca Council speaks about the new policy regarding Gays in the Scouts at a press Conference Thursday at their headquarters at 7601 Lockheed Drive. (Daniel Borunda/El Paso Times)

The Boy Scouts of America on Thursday approved a controversial policy change allowing gay boys to join, although gay adults are still barred as Scout leaders.

The new policy takes effect Jan. 1. The policy change is not likely to end a debate about allowing gays in the 103-year-old youth organization.

Gay-rights activists applauded the decision but described the move as a half-measure. The Boy Scouts could also see a backlash from conservative churches that sponsor Scout groups and view homosexuality as a moral issue.

"There are passions on both sides of this issue, that is no difference than what we see right here in El Paso and Southern New Mexico," said David J. Jones, executive director-Scout executive of the Boy Scouts' local Yucca Council.

The Yucca Council has a membership of about 5,000 youths and 2,500 adults in far West Texas and Southern New Mexico. Jones said the average age for Boy Scouts is about 10 years old.

The policy change was approved by 61 percent of roughly 1,400 voting representatives of the Boy Scouts of America's National Council during a national meeting near Dallas.

Jones flew back to El Paso from the national meeting for a news conference Thursday at the Yucca Council's headquarters near El Paso International Airport. The Yucca Council is one of 296 councils in the United States.

Jones said he did not know how the Yucca Council's three representatives voted. He suspected that the representatives may have voted in line with a local email survey of the El Paso region membership that found that 65 percent were against the policy change.

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"We see the younger that the parents are (of) the boys coming into Scouting, the more they are in favor of this change," Jones said. The Boy Scouts currently have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding the sexual orientation of members and adult leaders.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who earned the rank of Eagle Scout, issued a statement saying he was "greatly disappointed" with the policy decision.

"The Boys Scouts of America has been built upon the values of faith and family for more than 100 years, and today's decision contradicts generations of tradition in the name of political correctness," Perry said.

Scout groups are often sponsored by churches, including about half of the groups in the El Paso region. Some church-sponsored groups nationally threatened to leave the Boy Scouts if the gay ban was lifted.

"We are deeply saddened," said Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's executive committee. "Homosexual behavior is incompatible with the principles enshrined in the Scout oath and Scout law."

The new policy, which was a compromise of sorts, was also criticized by gay-rights activists because of its exclusion of gay adults.

REPORTER

Daniel Borunda

The gay-rights group Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays-El Paso applauded the new policy. They said it embraces diversity, tolerance and inclusion but also said the policy excludes gay members when they reach adulthood.

"The Boy Scouts of America must realize that inclusion, by its very nature, cannot be selective: either you are a welcoming organization or you are not," the group said in a statement. "In going halfway with this policy, the BSA suggests that their members are only capable of being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, courteous and kind until their 18th birthday. Once taught, do these traits diminish or disappear when a child comes of age?"

Jones said that membership in Yucca Council's Scouting programs has doubled to 5,000 in the past six years as the Boy Scouts increased outreach efforts.

"Overall, we don't see that this will impact a great percentage of our membership," Jones said.

Jones said that the new policy does not mean that the Boy Scouts will be promoting any political, social or religious agenda. He also said that there are already safeguards and regulations to prevent sexual misconduct and to protect children.

"If a Scout behaves like he is suppose to, we won't have an issue with this anyway -- whether that boy is homosexual or heterosexual," Jones said.

"We will be following this policy in El Paso and Southern New Mexico," Jones said. "This 'yes' vote means we will serve all youth regardless of their sexual preference."

Jones pointed out that the Boy Scouts already have co-ed groups such as Explorer programs for young men and women up to 20 years old that have regulations to prevent problems among members of different genders.

"We are confident that when we see the bigger picture of this whole thing that we are reaffirming that kids come first," Jones said. "It's the place where they belong where they'll have a place to frequent and to grow. We don't want to deny the benefits and opportunities of Scouting to anyone. While everyone might not agree with the changes voted on today, we all agree kids are better off when they are in Scouting."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102. Follow him on Twitter @BorundaDaniel.

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